Motor control.



B. BORL AND.

MOTOR CONTROL.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 31, 1913.

1,103,027. Patented July 14, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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B. BORLAND.

MOTOR CONTROL.

APPLICATION FILED MAY a1, 1913.

1,103,027. Patented July 14,191;

2 BHEETS m u M 1n: NIB-RIMS PETERS co. PHOYDI-LITHOU wasnnvcmu. D c

In the drawings UNITED BRUCE BORLAND, OF

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MOTOR CONTROL.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known thatT, BRUCE citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in thecountyofCook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Motor .Control, of i which the following a specification, reference, being had therein to the accompanying drawing. 1 Y

My, invention relates to electric motor controllers and consist'sin the matters hereinafter described and then poi ted out. in 5 the appended claims; f'ff 151,"?

For convenience, of illustration I ,have 1 shown my invention embodied in mechanism to supply and control electric power to electric motors'for'vehicles, boats, etc, although the invention is not limitdto any particular classof 'such motors or to any special .form of niachine operated therebyJf Figureil is a idia'gra n matic view ,of partsland their circ uits'embodying the features of my'inve ntionj; Fig. 2 is a similar viewi showing the parts when the controller is in neutral position and no current flows through the motor circuit, Fig.- 3 is a similar view showing the parts when the controller is between neutral and first speed position either forward or back, to close the control circuit through the Bonmnn, a

Specification of Letters Iatenti Application filed May 31,1913;

- magnet M having tomobile, and it also switch-interlock device; Fig. i is a similar view showing the parts when the controller 7 is in a speed position and before a switch of the control circuit is opened; Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the parts when the controller is in speed position and after the switch of the control circuit is opened and again closed as shown in dotted lines; Figs. (3. 7, S and 9 are detail views showing dif i'erent positions of parts of the controller and controller switch of the control circuit.

In the drawings A indicates an electric motor, B a source of electrical supply, as a battery, for supplying energy or power to the motor through the motor-circuit I), b, and C a controller in the circuit having the usual fingers c for regulating the supply of current from the battery to the motor through different resistances or field connections to obtain various speeds of the motor, both forwardly and rearwardly, as the controller handle is turned, all as now well understood in the art. The controller its magnet M may have the star wheel C which acts as I Patented July '14, 1914 SerialNo. 770,853."?

the' controller-lever is operated upon a spring-retracted switch C carrying. a con= tact c at its free end electrically connected with one side of the control circuit. This latter circuit leads by the branch d from the battery to the contact 0' and by the branchd' from the other side of the battery through thewvinding of an electr0- an armature M in the motor circuit and thence to contact w in the pathjof the contact 0', so that when these contact's e'ngage the control circuit is 7 closed toenergize its magnet and in'turn close thejinotor'circuit. The control cir c'uit contains 'afsiwitch s 'which'may be of any suitable form t be opened and closed by the-operator, as for example b the lock under ithe control of the key'he d by the proper party such as the owner of the aumay contain'a brakeswitch 8' operated by a 'rod s from the lever S of suitable brake mechanism'so that when either switch is opened, as for example upon the application of the brake, the control circuit is opened to denergize the magnet M and open the motor circuit by the action of spring m on the armature M; the organization and operation of the lock and brake switches are well understood and do not require'extended description. The armaturc M has a contact I) which engages a contact I) to close the motor circuit when is active or energized, the armature being held away from its magnet by its spring m to normally open the motor circuit at these contacts when its magnet is not active or energized. These parts comprise an electromagnetically operated switch to close the motor circuit when the magnet M is energized or active and to open the circuit by the force of the spring when it is inactive or deenergized. This switch is held open by an electrically operated interlocking device which may be of any suitable contruction and arrangement for automatic electrical operation, preferably by an electro-magnet in a subcircuit of the control circuit. The subcii'- cuit for the interlocking device includes an electro-magnet N having an armature N retracted from the magnet by a spring n, and one end of the magnet winding or wire as at n is connected to the battery, while its other end if leads to a contact y in the path the ;path "of the armature M, So that when thelswitch is moved toa. speed-position of I H the controller to clo se the "control-cirque thr ugh t m gne Mth e' T i a i' whsn l e ti ln' f se th contacts 1:. and fni'provide' a s te yth i ii r d n va'l n a' it??? tion of ma ne -3i; to keep this circuit closed until it .isbroken by opening one 915 the s witches,s, s

.v' r: Thecontroller handle; is move rom its positionas indicatediin 2; 6 and 9 no current is-supplied to the motor, this'relation ,of the parts being Clearly shown in- Fig. 2. The star-wheel of the controller is provided with a series of notches in ,which a lug orprojection on the switch C" is normally seatedby the spring-action'ofthe switch, and with a pair of relatively high projections c on either side of the neutral or zero notch and with a series'otrela' tively low projections 0* representing 'various speed positions of the controller. Vhen the controller handle is in zero or neutral position the lugon the switch C stands in the notch between the pair of high projections with no current in the motor, this relation of parts being shown in Fig. 2. When the controller handle is moved from neutral position in either direction for forward or backward movement of. the motor the controller switch C is operated by one of the two high projections c on the star-wheel to close the contacts 0' and y as shown in Fig. 3 and the switches in the control circuit being closed current flows from the battery through the switch C and magnet N in the interlocking sub-circuit whereby the armature N is attracted to close the contacts 11 and--11 thereby enabling current 'to flow through the shunt circuit to keep the magnet N energized and its armature N withdrawn 'from the path of the armature M after the contact 0' has been moved away from the contact 1, it being obvious that this shunt circuit will remain operative to hold the interlocking .device out of the path of the armature M until it is broken by the opening of one of the switches in the control circuit; this relation of the parts is shown in 3. As the movement of the controller handle is continued to a speed position the controllerswitch Cidrops by its spring actuationin'toone of the recesses c of the 'star wheel; 'as shown in' either Fig. 7 or Fig. 8 aecoijding tojits direction of movement, when'the contact a engages the contact an to close the control circuit and current flows the Lbat't'eryQD through the magnet M bei'ri energi'zd attracts its armature l 11' to close the motor circuit this movement of the g -mature M'being permitted byth ej fact that 'tliearmature N of the interlocking device is held out of the path of the'arrr i a tlir' QM the operation of the shunt a e In'this relation of the parts as:show ri" n Fig. 4 the motor is actuated and currentcontinucstofiow'in all the circuits untilithe control-lerswitch is moved to dpe'n'ithe tio'ntactsf'c" and 'im, .or one of the switches of the] control circuit is opened.

When a switch the control. circuit is t L, v 1 "opened as forexajn ple by the operation of zero oi neutralposition n opposite 'direc tions for various speeds, bdchior am1 and ,rearwardly, and when it stands at neutral setting the brake on the driven machine, the control circuit is broken and the current is out 01f from'the magnets M and N, whereupontheir spring-actuated armaturcs are withdrawn' from the magnets to open the switch of the motor circuit and to lock its armature M from closing again by reason of the armature N resuming its locking position with respect to it, as shown in Fig.

5. When the switch of the control circuit is again closed as for example by releasing the brake the interlocking armature 1" holds the motor circuit switch open until the controller handle is returned to its neutral or zero position, this relation and result being illustrated in Fig. 5 where the switch of the control circuit is shown closed in dotted lines and the controller switch left in its speed position; as the circuit of the interlocking device remains open it is obvious that the spring 11, retains the armature N in the path of the armature M thereby preventing the latter from closing and maintaining the motor circuit open. From these facts it is apparent that at any time when the control circuit is I opened or broken by any of its switches s, 8 no current will flow to the motor circuit until after the COntIOllQl and its switch have been returned to neutral position and then operated for that purpose.

and that the control circuit is therefore governed by its switch as well as by the controller. Hence if the brake be applied and released without turning the controller from its speed position as delineated in Fig. 5, no current will flow to the motor circuit, but it is necessary for the operator to turn the controller to its neutral position in order to close the sub-circuit through the magnet N before the motor switch can again be closed to supply current to the motor circuit when the controller is next operated for that purpose. Also, as at any time-when the current in the control circuit is broken no current can again flow to the motor circuit until after the controller has been returned to its neutral position, if any break occurs in the circuit and the controller is accidentally left on at any speed no currentcwill flow to the motor circuit when the break is re paired to suddenly readmitthe' c urrent to the motor. When the controller is returned to its neutral position=the interlockingvcircuit is again closed and its magnet N isrkept energized by circuit, so that when the controller is' moved to speed position the motor circuit will again be closed. It is therefore apparent that the interlocking circuit is closed solelyzby'the controller when moved from itsz neutral .position and is opened solely by opening'or breaking the control circuit, ElSifOI' example by opening its brake-operated switch ;or lock switch, b' -iu When the controller moves between speed positions the switch C -is moved to neutral position as showninFig'Q by reason of the speed projections c on the star-wheel being lower than project-ions c before the' com troller moves far enough to break any of the connections'made by the controller-fingers to the motor circuit and this circuit is opened by the breaking of contacts (1 and :2, although the shunt circuit remains closed, by reason of which facts the motor circuit is opened between changes of speed so there is no burning on the controller as it changes from one set of connections to another, while the shunt circuit remains closed so that the interlock device is inoperative and will allow the motor circuit switch represented by magnet: M and its armature to freely make and break the motor circuit as the controller is moved from one speed position to another. in. other words between different speed positions of the controller before any contact is' broken on the controller drum the switch C moves to neutral position and the motor circuit is temporarily opened by opening connections b 1). The controller switch has three different operations. making contact. between its neutral position and first speed position in either direction to close the interlocking circuit, contact at any speed position to close the control circuit, and

the current through the shimt' standing between its cont-acts to prevent burning on the controller during changes of motive force in the motor circuit or between different rates of speed of the driven machine. The government of the control circuit by opening its line switch or by derangement of the circuit opens the secondary circuits and shuts off the current to the motor circuity-and. even ifthe control circuit S\\ltCl1 ;lS' closed current can be restored to the motor circuit only by returning the contrcller to its zero or neutral position so that power is not applied to the motor at any considcrablestrength with resultant damage to the mechanism and sudden starting of the machine but will be applied beginning at the zero or minimum point and gradually :increasinguntil the desired motive power is reached. "After the interlocking circuit is closed the shunt circuit remains closed:

through the magnet N as long as the control circuit switch remains closed, but the;open- :ing ofthisswitch: cuts ofi all the current -irrespe'ctive of the position of thecontroller.

' The switch: s' is ordinarily intended to be attached to the emergency brake which is usually-supplied with a ratchet which may be'applied to hold the brake in set position, as when leaving the car standing on a grade, so -that when the brake is released bythe operator without his having first returned theconti'oller to neutral position the car will not start ahead on account of the action of the"interlock N as the motor circuit'can not be closed until after the controller has 0 been returned to neutral positioirto energizermagnet N. This is also the case when the operator. unlocks the car by closing switch 8, --which is ordinarily-a key-operated switch. In casethe, operator might 1 wislrhis car arranged-so that by applying the service-brake lightly the motor circuit would be 'opened and the car allowed to coast, analogous to throwing out the clutch in a gasolene car, a switch 8" is provided whichmay be connected with the service brake lever. This switch 8" is located on line d of the control circuit between contact a: on that line and the pointwhere line d joins b, as illustrated in Figs. 3, -i and In this way it. will be seen that by moving the service-brake 8* just enough to open switch 8'', but not enough to apply the brake, the current through magnet M will be broken and the motor circuit opened at 11 b and the car will coast along without power although the controller is in a speed position and by releasing the service brake the operator may again apply power to the motor without moving the controller handle, as by releasi g the service-brake the control circuit through magnet M is again closed and by armature M being attracted to its magnet M the motor circuit is closed. This switch being located on line d between contact :2:

and the point where line al -joins b itwill be seen that'opening it only breaks .the current through magnet'M-and has-no effect on thevcl'irrent- -through magnet-'ZN- or the Shunt/1L WIS/15' V -':-l'- c laimi' rvi :r

:La'I-he combination Ofzall electric motor, a current-supply r circuit =therefor,' an electri- I 'callymperated switch for th'e supp'lyeeircuit, an. electromesponsive actuator i therefor, a control circuit in which :said actuator is inchided, I an 'electrically operated 5 look I normallyzholding the switch-open, a controllerand electrical'ineails operating to' withdraw said lock and permit said switch to'be closed when the controller passes from-neutral to SPQCdPOSltlOIL-u'ha, z i fiiiiiii. 1. A,

v :2. n'lhe combination of.an?electric motor, a currentrsupply. circuit therefor, Ian? electrivcallyoperated switch-for the supply-cireuit, 11"C0l1t10l circuit in which actuating. .means Z for, i the switch. "iS iiIlCllldBdWfiIl91il0tBiCflll operated-lock holdingtheiiswitchi open,;a --coilt['olle1', electrical de-Yicds for withdraw-Y ing said dock and r ifbr closing the switch whenthe-- iont'roller passes fi'o-m neutral: to, 'speed position, a shunt-circuit including an actuating'device for holding the lock elosed,i and a switch to open the Supplyzcircuit: .1: '2 3. Thei-combinatioh of an elec'tric motor, a current-supply circuit thenefor, an electri- 'cai'ly I operated switch forthe supply-circuit ..-normal-ly held opeir by spring tension, a con-i trol fleircuit hawingi 58.11" electro-rhagn'et'rtoi closethe-switch'ofithe supply-icirciiit, a sec-5 ond electro-magnet"=having, an' armatumto; -bl ock1 t'he closing of th" switchr when'wthei unagnet is denergized, conductors leading from the control-circuit-to the second mag-- net, a "controller and means to? cause both; Lmagn'ets to beenergized when the controller passes from neutral tofspeed position.

i. The combination of an electric motor, a

current-supply circuit therefor, a switch for the supply-circuit comprising. -aI1--.-' electromagnet" whose armature is normally held open by a spring, .acontrol'circuit in which the magnet is included, a second 'electro- VJ magnet whose armature blocks the closing of the armature of the first magnet when the second magnet is deenergized, conductors leading from the control .circuit to the sec' ond magnet, a shunt circuit including said second magnet,-a controller, means actuated by the controller to cause both magnets to be energized when the controller passes from neutral to speed position, and a switch to open the supply circuit.

5. The combination of an electric motor, a em-rcnt-supply circuit therefor, a switch for the supply-circuit, means tending to open said switch, a control circuit including actuating means to close the switch, an electrically-operated lock in a shunt to the control circuit to normally vhold the switch open, and electrical means releasing the lock and permitting the switch to be closed upon the closing of a switch in the control circuit. 6; The combination of an electric motor, a current-supply circuit therefor, .an electrically operated -switch for. the supply-circuit, means tending to open said switch, an electrically-operated lock to hold the switch openvwhen released, and means for denergizing saidelectricallybperated switch and permitting' it-to open upon the application of a brake- 7; The combination of an electric motor, a current-Supply circuit therefor, a normallyopen switch for-the supply-circuit, a control circuit-including actuating means for the switchyganaelectrically-operated device to interlockwith theswitch when the latter is opema circuit including actuating means for the interlocking idevice"; a controller, and =meansoperated solely by .the controller to close said iinterloc-king device circuit.

i-8.g'lhe combination of an electric motor, a curi'eiit 'supply[circuit therefor, a normallyopen switclr for thessupply-circuit, a'nelectricallyoperatcd device to intcrlock with zthe: switch' av hen the latter is open,-a circuit including 'actuating means fo'rthe interlockingideuice to hold the latter out of engagement with the switch, a switch in the 'control 'ici-rcuit, a controller, and means to close. theocircuit of said actuating means Iva-hen the-controller passes from ;neut raf to speed position. .i iwQyThe combination of an electric motor, a im'otor: circ uit, a controller therefor, anorunally-opeir electrically operated switch for ithe-motor circuit, a control circuit including actuating-means for said switch, an electriically-operated lock to hold said switch open, a "circuit including actuating means for said lock, and means operated by the controller .to close the last named circuit to withdraw the lock when the controller passes from neutral position to currentsupp!y position and to close the control circuit when the controller is in'said current-supply position. 10. The combination of an electric motor, a motor circuit, a controller therefor, a normally-open electrically operated switch for the motor circuit, a control circuit including actuating means for said switch, an electrically-operated lock device to hold said switch open, a circuit in shunt to the control circuit including actuating means for said lock, and means operated by the controller to open said shunt circuit when the controller is in neutral position and to close said control circuit when the controller is in current-supply position.

- 11. The combination of an electric motor a circuit therefor, an automatic electromagnetically-operated switch for said circuit, a control circuit including actuating means for said switch, the motor circuit be- 111g opened when said actuating means is decnergized, an electrically-operated lock to hold said switch open, a circuit. in shunt to the control circuit including actuating means for the lock, a controller having a switch operating to close the shunt circuit to withdraw the lock only when the controller is moved from the zero or neutral position.

12. The combination of an electric motor, a circuit therefor, an automatic electro-magnetiCally-operated switch for said circuit, a control circuit including actuating means for said switch, means for opening the control circuit upon the application of a brake, an electrically-operated lock to hold said switch open, a circuit in shunt of the control circuit including actuating means for the lock, a controller having a switch operating to close the shunt circuit to withdraw the look only when the controller is moved from the zero or neutral position.

13. The combination of an electric motor, a circuit therefor, an automatic electro-magnetically operated switch for said circuit, a control circuit including actuating means for said switch, and means to open the motor circuit upon the application of a brake, an electrically operated lock to hold the switch open, a circuit including actuating means for the lock, a controller having a switch in said control and lock actuating circuits and operating to close the lock actuating circuit only when the controller is moved from the zero or neutral position and to close the control circuit when in currentsupply position.

14. The combination of an electric motor, a circuit therefor, an automatic electromagnetically-operated switch for said circuit. a control circuit including actuating means for said switch and means to open the motor circuit upon the application of a brake. an electrically operated lock to hold the switch open, a circuit in shunt to the control circuit. including the lock actuating lntilllb. a controller having a switch in said control and lock actuating circuits and operating to close the lock actuating circuit only when the controller is moved from the zero r neutral position and to close the control circuit when in current-supply position.

11'. The combination of an electric motor, a motor circuit, an electrical switch therefor, a controller having a switch adapted to take three positions, a control circuit including the motor circuit switch and the controller switch, an electrically operated lock to hold the motor circuit switch open, a lock actuating circuit including the controller switch, and means on the controller to close its switch with the lock actuating circuit only when the controller is moved from neutral position and to close the control circuit when in currentsupply position and to open both circuits when changing from one current-supply position to another.

16. The combination of an electric motor, a motor circuit, an electrical switch therefor, a controller having a switch adapted to take three positions, a control circuit in cluding the controller switch and actuating means for the motor circuit switch, an electrically operated lock to hold the motor circuit switch open, a lock actuating circuit including the controller switch, a shunt circuit including actuating means for the lock, means on the controller to close its switch with the lock actuating circuit only when the controller is moved from neutral position and to close the control circuit when in current-supply position and to open both circuits when changing from one current supply position to another. and a switch in the control circuit.

17. The combination of an electric motor, a current-supply circuit therefor, an electromagnetically-operated switch for the supply-circuit, a control circuit in which the magnet of the switch is included, a second electro-magnet whose armature blocks the closing of the armature of the first ma not when the second magnet is denerigize a circuit in shunt to the control circuit including said second magnet, a controller, means actuated by the controller to cause both magnets to be energized when the coutrollcr passes from neutral to speed position, and a service switch in the control circuit beyond the shunt adapted to break the control circuit without atlecting the shunt circuit.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

BRUCE RORLAND. \Vi tnesses EDITH l/VILoox, J MoRonnRTs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

